Method for sealing test tubes and the like

Abstract

A method of sealing the open mouths of an array of test tubes comprises providing a plurality of plugs with upwardly facing recesses, and a flexible carrier sheet having the same array of mutually spaced downwardly projecting pegs inserted into and frictionally retained within the recesses of respective ones of the plugs. Sealing is effected by aligning the plugs with the open mouths of the test tubes, pressing the carrier sheet towards the test tubes to seat the plugs in the open tube mouths, and peeling the carrier sheet away from the test tubes to extract the pegs from the plug recesses while allowing the plugs to remain seated in the tube mouths.

1. A method of sealing the open mouths of an array of test tubes, said method comprising:
 providing a plurality of plugs with upwardly facing recesses; 
 providing a flexible carrier sheet having the same array of mutually spaced downwardly projecting pegs, each of said pegs being inserted into and frictionally retained within the recess of a respective one of said plugs; 
 aligning said plugs with the open mouths of said test tubes; 
 pressing said carrier sheet towards said test tubes to seat said plugs in said open mouths; and 
 peeling said carrier sheet away from said test tubes to extract said pegs from said recesses while allowing said plugs to remain seated in the open mouths of said test tubes. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein said carrier sheet and said plugs are preassembled into a sealing mat.